By Naomi
Lots of people read to escape the real world. While it’s definitely useful to read about all the things you can do, it’s also very valuable to give your working mind a rest and try escapism for a while. Science Fiction, Fantasy and Fantasy Romance (or Romantasy) are some genres that are particularly suitable for diving into a new world and forgetting about your worries, at least for a bit. Everyone’s escapism looks different, but it can be hard to fully escape into a book when none of the characters are like you.
Historically, published Science Fiction and Fantasy has been pretty white. Luckily there are plenty of BIPOC, queer and disabled authors writing in these genres and as a buyer, I try to stock my shelves with their books. Reading and escaping should be for everyone, and this Black History Month we want to celebrate and promote some books by Black authors. We’re continuing with some Romantasy recommendations. If you missed the Fantasy recs, check them out here. And keep an eye out for Science Fiction recommendations coming soon.
Happy Reading!
Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana
If you love A Court of Thorns and Roses, give Lore of the Wilds a try. Lore is a human who wants one thing: magic of her own. Her village has been destroyed by a natural disaster and in exchange for the ruthless Fae to rebuild it, Lore agrees to enter an enchanted library that Fae haven’t been able to enter for a thousand years. She has to organize and catalog its contents, accessing knowledge that has been hidden and a history that has been stolen. Readers enjoyed the world-building, and while there are some pacing issues, it’s an excellent debut and an exciting start to the duology. Book two, Lore of the Tides, is out this summer!
I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming
Kimberly Lemming has single-handedly established a new Romantasy subgenre: cozy smut. Her latest release moves the fantasy setting to outer space, as Dorothy, a PhD student researching wildlife biology, gets attacked by a lion and saved/abducted by an alien (the lion also gets saved/abducted, for some reason). Her and the lion team up with two sexy aliens, exploring the planet and fighting off dinosaurs. This description really captures what the book is like: ridiculous, hilarious and above all, highly entertaining. Dorothy is a very relatable character (her circumstances less so, I hope for you) and the spice is very spicy. You’ve been warned.
Vampires are really having their moment again, and this Ethiopian-inspired take on the creatures is a great addition to the genre. Kidan believes her twin sister has been taken by vampires. Hell-bent on rescuing her, she infiltrates the elite university where humans and vampires study to peacefully coexist. The university building is sentient, the characters are morally gray (dark-gray, even) and the romance is truly enemies-to-lovers. Book two in this trilogy is expected in October.
